Turn in old prescription drugs at National Take Back Initiative Oct. 29

Local police departments are participating in the National Take Back Initiative this weekend by providing an opportunity for residents to turn in expired or unwanted prescriptive substances and other medications.

At the take-back day, controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter substances will all be collected, and donors will remain anonymous; no requests for identification will be made.

Participants should remove any identifying information that might be found on a prescription label on a container. Medications can also be removed from their containers and put directly into a disposal box. However, liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container.

In Anne Arundel County, the Police Department's collection will be held Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at each of the county's four districts. The location for the Western District, which includes Laurel, is 8273 Telegraph Road, in Odenton.

Anne Arundel County Police have recovered more than 200 pounds of unused medications during its participation in each of the previous two "take-back days." For more information, call the Western District at 410-222-6155.

In Prince George's County, the Police Department's collection is Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at three collection points:

• District I Station, 5000 Rhode Island Ave., Hyattsville

• District III Station, 7600 Barlowe Road, Palmer Park

• District IV Station, 5135 Indian Head Highway, Oxon Hill

For more information on the Prince George's County collection, call the Community Services Division at 301-909-7126 or go to